Phonograph stylus



March 28, 1950 L. J. ANDRES PHONOGRAPH STYLUS Filed Dec. 27, 1946 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Mar. 28, 1950 .1 PHONO GRAPH; STYLUS Lloyd J. Andres, Chicago," 111., assignortdlermo Incorporated; ,Chicago, "Ill., 3 a corporation" 50f Illinois .Application, December 27, isiaseriamo. 18.751'

4"Claims. (cumss) .iThis invention. relates ,in general to phono- .=.;graphv styliand more particularly to a new stylus iijor use in reproducers in whichthe playing por- ...tion is provided with predetermined flexibility aandprotectedagainst accidental displacement and damage. Phonograph. styli previous to this invention; provides with sensitive playing. poritions, were constructed-to protect'the playing portion from permanent.lateralldeformation' but no rovision made, to provide retraction of the playing point to prevent deformation or damage from vertical shock. -The present inven-' tion not only provides a stylus in which the playing point is'in a desirable coaxial alignment with the shank of the stylus but includes provision for both laterahand-vertical compliance of the playing. point and means for protecting the sensiative playing portion from .fldeformation from .shock. in both' lateral vand .verticaldireictions ,Which construction is 'the principal object. of the I invention. further 'object of the invention is the pro- *visioniofj'means' for securing one end oflthe playing portion in rigid .relation..with the: shank "member'bfthe'stylus.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a stylus having a playing portion secured therein which portion comprises a freely sprung loop-shaped end terminating in a playing point with said point substantially enclosed and projecting from a cavity in the end of the shank.

These and other objects are described and shown in one embodiment of the invention in which:

Fig. 1 is an enlarged rear elevation of the sty- 111s.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional elevation of the stylus shown Fig. 1 taken through section line 2-2.

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional plan view of the stylus shown Figs. 1 and 2 taken through section line 33 Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional plan view of the stylusshown Figs. 1 and 2 taken through section line 4 4 Fig. 2.

Referring; to Figs. 1 and 2, a substantially cylindrical shank member I is provided with a coaxial bore"'4 in its central portion in which a playing member 2 is rigidly secured at one end. Theiremaining end portion of member 2 is formed in a flexible loop 5 projecting outwardly from the shankfl through a slot Ill. The loop 5 ends in an offset terminating in a conventional conical 1 playing point 6 which oint is normally positioned substantially in coaxial alignment with. the ,upper end of .theuplaying portion shown.

The, slot I0 is flared at its lower. poi- .tion .to form .protecting side walls -l2 l21las shown. The upper" part ,ofthe loopfi .of the playing member'is rigidly secured by frictioninthe upper-portionof slot. ldforthepurpose oi-posh ntioningloop-i and the playing point 6' improper lirespectatothe shank by deformations. sand. 9

position in the cavity 1. The playing member 2' is .prevented from moving -,longitudinal1y with I. applied ito ;both1wshank-- and, playing memberas shown Fig. 2. The latter deformation; isiormed simultaneously with the forming of groove 8 "which. groove-is provided for theregistration pi movement .of the playing portion without restriction butpreventsthe playing-.portion-from being laterally sprung beyond its elastic limit.

Referring to FigJ-Z, playingpoint d is show in its. normal playing position .1 which provides for predetermined vertical compliance" without restriction. When excessive shock in a vertical direction is applied to point 5 by a record or other object, the point and the loop 5 will assume the position shown in dotted lines thus preventing the loop 5 from being sprung beyond its elastic limit by virtue of the record or other object striking the lower end of the shank I. It is also apparent that the side walls l2-! 2 will also protect the playing portion from similar shock applied in lateral directions.

Having described my invention, 1 claim:

1. A phonograph stylus for playing a disc record comprising a shank and a playing member, said shank having its upper end portion adapted to be secured in a reproducer and its lower end portion forming a cavity substantially longitudinal thereof said cavity having an opening also substantially longitudinally located with reference to said shank, said playing member having its upper end coaxially secured in said shank and having a flexible lower end formed in a loop shape projecting outwardly from the axis of, said'shank and terminating in a playing point, said cavity having a longitudinal slot, said loop extending through said slot said point normally positioned in and projecting from said cavity below said opening and substantially in coaxial alignment with said shank whereby said playing point will retract into said cavity upon application of sufiicient vertical pressure to said shank to move its lower end into contact with said record.

2. 'A phonograph stylus for playing a disc record comprising a shank and adapted to be secured in a reproducer and having a concentric bore in its central portion and an open cavity of greater diameter than said bore in its lower portion, a slot in said lower portion Opening into said cavity, a playing portion having its upper end positioned in said bore including means for securing said upper end in the bore of said shank, said playing portion having a flexible lower end forming a loop projecting outwardly from said fsh'ank' through said slot, said loop terminating an ofiset and an integral playing point, an

I opening at the lower end of said cavity and said sl'ot extending to said opening with said playing i point normally extending-'lbelow the opening and said point normally positioned substantially ooaxialfwith said shank whereby said playing point andsaid loop will normally oscillate in both verideal and lateral directions with respect to and independent of said shank when said point engages a record and whereby said playing point will retract into said cavity and the lower end offsaid shank will move into contact with said record when excessive pressure is applied to said shank.

3'. A phonograph stylus for playing a disc recportion, a slot in said lower portion opening into said cavity, a playing portion having its upper end portion in said bore, a deformation in said shank and in the upper portion of said playing portion in juxtaposition with each other for securing the upper end portion of said playing por-. tion in rigid relation with said shank, said playing portion having a flexible lower portion forming a loop projecting outwardly from said shank through said slot, said loop terminating in an offset and an integral playing point, an opening at the lower end of said cavity, said opening being coaxial with the upper end portion of said playing portion and said slot extending to said playing portion, said point normally extending below said opening and positioned substantially coaxial with said shank whereby said playing point will retract into said cavity and the lower end of said shank will move into contact with said record when excessive pressure is applied to said shank.

4. In a phonograph stylus having a shank and a flexible playing portion secured therein, a cavity in the lower end of said shank, a slot in said lower end of said shank opening into said cavity the upper portion of said slot having a smaller width than the lower portion thereof and forming a pair of upper and lower wall edges substantially parallel to said shank, a looped end of said playing portion extending out of the said upper portion of said slot and embraced by the said upper wall edges and returned into the said lower portion of said slot, in predetermined spaced relation with said lower wall edges, said looped end terminating in a playing point, an opening in the lower end of said cavity, said slot extending to said opening said playing point normally extending below said opening and in a substantial line with said shank and projecting from the lower end of said shank.

LLOYD J. ANDRES.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 881,594 Konigstein Mar. 10, 1908 1,391,425 Steinhert Sept. 20, 1921 2,249,713 Imelmami July 15, 1941 2,276,562 Capps Mar. 17, 1942 2,280,763 Hasbrouck Apr. 21, 1942 2,326,389 Pate Aug. 10, 1943 2,438,111 Campbell Mar. 23, 1948 

